Scheduled 69 million doses are schedualed release this year.

(Reuters) - Moderna Inc’s experimental vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage trial, the company said on Monday, becoming the second U.S. drugmaker to report results that far exceed expectations.

Together with Pfizer Inc’s vaccine, which is also more than 90% effective, and pending more safety data and regulatory review, the United States could have two vaccines authorized for emergency use in December with as many as 60 million doses of vaccine available this year.

Article.

The experimental vaccine, mRNA-1273, is being tested in early-stage trial by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, with Moderna expecting to begin mid-stage trial in the second quarter.

Under the 10-year collaboration agreement, the companies aim to manufacture up to a billion doses per year as technology transfer is expected to begin in June, and the first batches of the vaccine are expected to be manufactured in Lonza U.S. in July.

"Over time, the parties intend to establish additional production suites across Lonza's worldwide facilities, ultimately allowing for the manufacture of material equivalent to up to 1 billion doses of mRNA-1273 per year for use worldwide", the statement added.

The disease, which infected more than 3.2 million people worldwide and killed around 232,000, set off a race among drugmakers to find an antidote

PUBLISHED FRI, MAY 1 2020 5:48 AM EDT

Source.https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/moderna-and-switzerlands-lonza-strike-a-deal-on-a-potential-coronavirus-vaccine.html

Moderna Inc's experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage trial, the company said on Monday. That followed last week's news that Pfizer Inc's vaccine was also more than 90% effective based on initial data. Pending more safety data and regulatory review, the United States could have two vaccines authorized for emergency use in December. Both vaccines employ synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA), which coaxes cells to make certain virus proteins that the immune system sees as a threat and mounts a response against. Moderna's trial involved 30,000 racially diverse U.S. adults, including people at high risk for severe COVID-19. Only five of the 95 COVID-19 cases in the initial analysis occurred in participants who received the vaccine, while the rest had received a placebo. The vaccine, administered in two shots 28 days apart, also appeared to prevent cases of severe COVID-19. Side effects, largely occurring after the second shot, included muscle aches, fever, headache and redness at the injection site. Moderna's vaccine does not need ultra-cold storage like Pfizer's, making it easier to distribute. Moderna expects it to be stable at normal refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 48°F) for 30 days and can be stored for up to 6 months at -20C.

Source.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-science-idUSKBN27W2HD

 the United States government awarded the company an additional $1.5 billion in exchange for 100 million doses if the vaccine proves safe and effective. Moderna has made similar deals with Canada, Japan, and Qatar..

Source.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/covid-19_coronavirus--the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192

Switzerland has assured reservations for about 13 million doses of vaccines from two suppliers and an international programme by the World Health Organization.

Vaccination strategy
In a first phase, the government aims to immunise people with a health risk. Berset reiterated there were no plans to declare vaccinations mandatory across the country.

Preparations coordinated by the armed forces are underway to organise the logistics for distributing the vaccines across the country when one or several products will be ready.

“Our primary goal is to improve the current health situation,” he said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Health officials estimate about 60-70% of the population must be inoculated against the new coronavirus to get the pandemic under control.

Berset said the current infection figures in Switzerland remained “alarming” even as the number of confirmed daily cases has begun to stabilise over the past few days.

World distribution plan being coordinated through WHO.

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, accelerating the development of and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19 has been a priority for WHO.

Already, we have made remarkable progress. 

In January, within two weeks of the first cases being reported to WHO, we published the first protocol for PCR testing for the new coronavirus. 

Since then, millions of tests have been produced, and already rapid tests are now starting to be used.

In February, WHO brought together hundreds of scientists and researchers to identify research priorities. 

In March, we launched the Solidarity Trial, to find answers fast about which therapeutics are the most effective.

One therapeutic – dexamethasone – has already been proven effective for patients with severe and critical disease, others have been proven ineffective and still others are in trials.

And around 180 vaccines are now in development, including 35 that are in human trials. 

No disease in history has seen such rapid development in research. It is a testament to the incredible advances in science and technology the world has made in recent years.

Now, the world’s ambition to develop these tools as fast as possible must be matched by its ambition to ensure as many people as possible have access to them. 

Source. 

I envision a world in which everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. I believe the global commitment to sustainable development – enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals – offers a unique opportunity to address the social, economic and political determinants of health and improve the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. Achieving this vision will require a strong, effective WHO that is able to meet emerging challenges and achieve the health objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals. We need a WHO – fit for the 21st century – that belongs to all, equally. We need a WHO that is efficiently managed, adequately resourced and results driven, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability and value for money

Logistical concerns raised by Maine cdc director.

The speed at which we vaccinate the population in Maine is directly dependent on the funding,” Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the New York Times " We will still get the job done, but it will take longer if I can’t train the people to give it.”

Source.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-vaccine-social-media-165057292.html

Combined, pending further data and regulatory review, the United States could have as many as 60 million emergency doses available this year.

"More vaccine news is driving cyclicals, small caps and value, which would be primed if the economy reopens sooner than expected, returning us to some sense of normalcy," said Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio manager at Dakota Wealth in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Travel-related stocks, which have been clobbered by restrictions to contain the pandemic's spread, were in demand.

Shares of United Airlines, American Airlines, Carnival Corp and Norwegian Cruise Line jumped between 4.5 per cent and 9.7 per cent.